“Trump Convicted”: Historic Guilty Verdict in Stormy Daniels Hush Money Case.

Donald Trump made history as the first former US president to be convicted of a crime after a New York jury found him guilty on all 34 charges related to falsifying business records in the hush money case involving porn star Stormy Daniels. Despite the conviction, Trump remains eligible to campaign for another term in the White House, even if he ends up in prison.

On Thursday, a New York jury delivered a guilty verdict on all 34 counts against Trump, who was charged with falsifying business records to conceal a payment intended to silence Stormy Daniels about an alleged affair. The 77-year-old Republican could face up to four years in prison for each count, but a more probable outcome is probation. Trump was released without bail following the verdict, making him a felon—a first for any former US president.

In response to the conviction, Trump maintained his innocence, calling the trial “rigged” and a “disgrace.” He vowed that the “real verdict” would come from voters. Despite his legal troubles, Trump is not barred from running for president again and is expected to seek the Republican nomination at the National Convention in Milwaukee, just days after his sentencing, which is set for July 11.

The 12-member jury took over 11 hours across two days to reach a unanimous decision. Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, thanked the jurors for their service in what he described as a “difficult and stressful task.” Due to the high-profile nature of the case, the identities of the jurors were kept secret, a practice typically reserved for cases involving organized crime or violent defendants.

Trump’s conviction in the hush money case is just one of several legal battles he faces. He is also under investigation for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results and for mishandling classified documents after leaving office. However, trials for these more serious allegations are unlikely to commence before the next presidential election.

The charges stem from Trump’s reimbursement of his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Daniels claimed the payment was made to keep her silent about a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, just before the 2016 election. Trump’s defense team argued that the payments were legal, but the jury sided with the prosecution, which portrayed the hush money as part of a broader scheme to deceive voters.

The trial featured significant testimony from Michael Cohen, who has turned against Trump, and Stormy Daniels, who detailed her alleged encounter with Trump. The prosecution successfully argued that the hush money payment and its concealment were criminal acts designed to protect Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.